The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11

PcoPlo o1 AtIdllla nave the right 10 vote on II
every TWO years, The argument was used in
the last campaign that certain streets in At
lanta had been deluged with liquor, and it
added to their votes If it is wrong to sell
whisky, why object to this bill? 1t is said
that there are millk-and-cider prohibitionists
who will vote for high license, but if the res
friction is not made will vote for prohibition.
"A proper license is the idea of the whole
country. If you can fix the license at $500
you can fix it at $1,000 In a city of the size
of Atlanta 81 800 is no money for license.
The city of Atlanta ought to have whisky for
sale, (good whisky,) in her central part, where
parties can get it without being forced to go
outside where they can only get 'decayed in
teStinc' whisky"
1.-The law of God and Of man is not against
pure whisky"
Atlanta has been injured by the sending of
money to Griffin and other places for liquors
for those who voted against the SALE (some of
them,) purchase it. / sent to a town and got
brandy at $3.50 per gallon that had to send
back"
Prohibition may do in small towns but not
in Atlanta"
81 never drank glass of corn whisky IL
my life, and l don't drink beer. The city
council worked on the bill for a year. The
bill places the barrooms in the business CEN
ter, where they ought to be-
MIR. Bray-"The bill violates the principles
OF true democracy, and of popular sovereignty.
1t is disturbing element injected into the
local option law. The people do not want it.
Prohibition has redounded to the moral and
material interests of Atlanta. l appeal to
prohibitionists to vote down this bill. Take
my word for it, Atlanta will never be deluged
with whisky. The bill i'll its operation is prac-
tically class legislation ii denies to the poor
man what it gives to the rich. There is no
danger of invasion from whisky. The people
won't vote for high license" Applause
THE ARGUMENT CONCLUDED.
Mr.. Howell concluded the debate on the
question.
He stated that he regretted that his col
league in opposing this bill had enunciated the
doctrine that it was undcmocratic to submit
amy question to the people. 1t was the first
time that he had ever heard such statement
on any question Involving the right of the peo-
pie to settle that question themselves. The
bill specially provided that nothing could come
of the law until it was first submitted to the
people and passed upon by them at their next
regular municipal election. 1t provided for
no extra election but was simply TO be voted
on for ratification or rejection at the regular
municipal election in December.
Before proceeding with the discussion de-
sire to make Il brief statement in reference toa
remark made by myself III my first brief talk.
then stated that a prominent minister in this
city had said in the committee on corporations
that rather than vote for restriction bill like
this, he would prefer to see the city dcluged in
whisky. [ am free to say that that expression
was tigUrative, but it WAS made directly by in
ference, Tor while the gentleman referred to
N,
in so many words by stating to the committee
that rather than vote for such bill as this he
would prefer TO see whisky back in Atlanta
like it was before prohibition was adopted.
make this statement in Justice 10 him, because
l do not want to quote him wrong. Ii is merely
play on words, while he said the latter, he
could have only meant the former.
The bill first restricting the limits was in
troduced into the council by the prOhibtionstS,
and Nfessrs. Hemphill, Bell and Rice all pro
for al l.,
prohibition council. l urge that the bin be
passed with the amendments. This city coun-
Gil is composed of good, honest men, and they
have recommended the passage OF the bill with
these amendments. They are acquainted with
the affairs of the city, and they know what
they are doing i'll asking you to pass this bill.
The central portion of the city is closely
built up and requires diligent police surveil-
lance. We simply ask you to give us the right,
in case Atlanta goes wet again, to check the
unrestricted sale, and confine it to the business
part of the city, where it will be under proper
police protection This bill provides til at it
shall be sold on first floors, With no screens no
games of chance allowed, and the sale of LIQUOR
to minors or drunken men forfeits the license.
The bill is founded on morality, and on the
prosperity of the city and i'll fighting it the
prohibitionists of the city of Atlanta simply
show that their pretcnse at moralityis a fraud,
and the truth is not i'll it. Applause.
81 am tired of seeing this city rent from
limit to limit by this agitation. l am tired of
seeing the houses of good citizens Swallowed
by detectives who grab innocent men as they
march from doorways, and hUrrying them to
the statonh0use, force them to submit to the
indignity of public search That is what it
has come to in the city of Atlanta. 1t is time
for this hypocrisy to stop! Applause.l A
young man was arrested on the streets, car
ried to the stationhouse, and publicly search
ed. A prohibition recorder dismissed the
case. Such infamy our people are tired of.
Put stop TO this breeding of hypocrites. Zap
plause] We are tired of seeing our pulpits
daubed in political infamy and debased with
personal blackguardism. The people will rise
against it, and we ask you tohelp us settle this
question on a proper basis, which good citizens
have agreed upon, and submit to you in the
pending bill"
THE BILL DEFEATED.
On the call of the yeas and nays the bill
was defeated receiving 40 votes for it and "a
against
We are willing to bear personal testimony TO